This is why they call it ‘Fight Week.’
Ahead of their main event clash Jan. 3 at UFC 182, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and top contender Daniel Cormier gathered their entourages together to take part in media day festivities.
After exchanging some pleasantries during a tense staredown, UFC president Dana White was forced to separate Jones and Cormier a second time on stage after posing for photos shoulder to shoulder.
That would typically be where things end on most weeks, but not here.
Via the magic of Instagram and the wherewithal of UFC veteran turned personal chef Tyson Griffin, we are now treated to further antics from both camps.
Griffin explains the situation:
Always nice to see rosendo_sanchez and Malki catch up, but I’m not sure why Jones wanted to get in the… http://t.co/VDDlE9Hhg8
— Tyson Griffin (@TysonGriffin) January 2, 2015
Always nice to see @rosendo_sanchez [Cormier’s boxing coach] and [Jon Jones’s manager] Malki [Kawa] catch up, but I’m not sure why Jones wanted to get in the middle and protect him. My only question for Jones is, “Why you coming at a coach?” #breakbones#mma #ufc #ufc182 #lasvegas #mgmgrand
Griffin posted a second video with action that had happened just prior:
This was just before previous video. Jones clearly isn’t walking toward @dc_mma but at least he chose… http://t.co/DXcUFgMlW2
— Tyson Griffin (@TysonGriffin) January 2, 2015
This was just before previous video. Jones clearly isn’t walking toward @dc_mma but at least he chose nicer words to use unlike when he thought the cameras were off! I’m not trying to say anyone is right or wrong for anything in these videos. I’m just giving you an update on the events taking place behind the scenes.#ufc182 #ufc #fightweek #breakbones @camacho100@rosendo_sanchez @noad_lahat @slikbxr
Should make for a fun weigh-in.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Sit downs. Ariel Helwani chats with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (here) and Daniel Cormier (here) ahead of Saturday night’s main event at UFC 182.
Confirmed. According to Dana White, Conor McGregor will indeed be next for UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo barring a loss to Dennis Siver in Boston.
Cobwoy. Donald Cerrone discusses arrangements with Dana White regarding fight week extreme activities.
‘I’m going to connect and find a way for Phil to be successful.’ Duke Roufus is looking to prove CM Punk’s ‘naysayers’ wrong.
Predictions. Luke Thomas makes his picks for UFC 182.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 182 embedded episode 3 and 4.
Jon Jones’ pre-fight scrum.
UFC 182 media day staredowns.
Fighters making some New Year’s resolutions.
Jones doing a pretty great interview with TMZ.
Shinya Aoki and Mirko Cro Cop in action New Year’s Eve.
Long watches.
Eddie Bravo Radio – Episode 80 – Joe Rogan 3 (12/28/2014)
TWEETS
Save it for Saturday.
Who knew @SteveAoki could scrap!?! pic.twitter.com/WJSvIx3nZd
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) January 2, 2015
Yikes.
Shine it up real nice @josealdojunior. pic.twitter.com/AlwpHI7tAv
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 1, 2015
“@SeanSheehanBA: Jose Aldo just put this up on his Facebook page. pic.twitter.com/xY8fbI78zh” not legal in UFC, only @ONEFCMMA
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 2, 2015
Beefin’.
@riddletuf7 too funny Matt, don’t worry about that chump.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) January 2, 2015
@JonnyBones I’m the king of whichever damn league I please. Have fun getting beat up Saturday night.
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 1, 2015
Not happy.
I heard @danawhite said Pettis is p4p number 1. I respect Dana but this is crazy. That means when I beat him I will be p4p king
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 2, 2015
Just heard I got skipped for my title shot. Scared Pettis is fighting somebody else. I predict he loses. @arielhelwani
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 2, 2015
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year from Tokyo! #InokiBomBaYe #IGF2014 pic.twitter.com/ysxVofMm3C
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) December 31, 2014
Not gonna lie. This was me this morning. Happy new year lol http://t.co/fyXpNiUyT9 pic.twitter.com/H19Uf39HSi
— michael (@bisping) January 1, 2015
Happy new year everyone! Kickin it off right w/ a tough wrestling practice! @HofstraWREST @HofstraPride #2015Goals pic.twitter.com/9VIABBfoiT
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) January 1, 2015
Cuttin.
Good morning insta. Rise and grind! 2days #andnew weight is great. Big weight cut tonight. I think I’m… http://t.co/hHzUueXPR3
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 1, 2015
Light work tonight for @dc_mma to make the final day easy as pie! @ufc #ufc182 #ufc #mma #weightcut… http://t.co/e2wregX4UN
— Tyson Griffin (@TysonGriffin) January 2, 2015
Cutting weight is easy when all ur homies show up! #UFC182 #Jan3rd #Saturday #7pmET #4pmPT… http://t.co/Kbu37EHDjH
— Danny Castillo (@lastcall155) January 2, 2015
Interesting.
You would have to ask them. RT @kirua_sama: why aren’t you commentating @ufc shows ?
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) January 2, 2015
Damn.
So this happened tonight. Tortured by Steven Segal, check that one off the bucket list. #deathtouch http://t.co/0mHIx0Cy6R
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) January 2, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Dec. 31- Jan. 1 2015)
cancelled Matt Brown vs. Tarec Saffiedine at UFC Fight Night: Broomfield
cancelled Uriah Hall vs. Costas Philippou at UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver
James Krause vs. Valmir Lazaro at UFC 184
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via theFightWhisperer.
Bargain hunting at UFC 182: Jones(-170) vs. Cormier(-150)
I’m not going to give you any analysis of how Jon Jones-Daniel Cormier will go. This is the most hyped, most analyzed fight I can remember, and if I am betting Jones (I am), you already know why. If you are taking Cormier, I already know your reasons.
On the other hand, I haven’t seen that much written about this fight from an odds perspective. I want you to consider Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier as bargains.
Looking up the odds for Jones-Gustafsson II is not as easy as going to bestfightodds.com, because the fight got cancelled after Gustafsson’s injury. From what I recall, Jones was a bit more than a (-300) favorite. This may seem a bit heavy considering how close their first fight was, but when you consider that the best odds you could get on Jones for the first fight was (-700), (-300) is actually showing Gustafsson a measure of respect, relatively speaking.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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